Bristol City 1 Hull City 1: Maloney nets Tigers a point

YP Staff

Substitute Shaun Maloney blasted a second-half equaliser as Sky Bet Championship leaders Hull were made to fight all the way for a 1-1 draw by Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

While the visitors showed the greater quality, their hosts left the pitch to a rousing ovation having battled from first whistle to last.

Kieran Agard fired the Robins in front after 39 minutes after Andrew Robertson brought down Elliott Bennett on the right side of the penalty area.

Luke Freeman’s inswinging free-kick caused havoc and the hosts appealed for handball before Agard pounced on the loose ball to net with a left-footed short on the turn.

Hull had to wait until the 73rd minute to equalise when Harry Maguire broke clear onto a Mohamed Diame flick and produced an emphatic right-footed finish with only Frank Fielding to beat.

Hull dominated first-half possession, yet went in a goal down and having had four players booked.

The hosts created the first chance when Jonathan Kodjia volleyed wide from Freeman’s through ball. Then Hull keeper Alan McGregor had to tip over a Freeman free-kick.

As the visitors got into their stride, Diame had a shot from inside the box blocked by Luke Ayling and Fielding had to palm over a fierce drive from Maguire.

Hull lost defender Michael Dawson to injury just after he had collected a 35th-minute caution and Steve Bruce sent on Curtis Davies as replacement.

After Agard’s goal, Hull laid siege to Bristol’s penalty area until the break. Jake Livermore’s shot was deflected over, Chuba Akpom missed a header from Robertson’s inviting cross and Diame fired over from a free-kick in a dangerous position.

The second half began with both sides defending well and chances at a premium.

But Hull showed their pedigree again with a 60th-minute move of quick passing that ended with Sam Clucas drilling a low shot wide from the edge of the box.

With home fans getting edgy, Bristol were again finding hard to keep the ball, but there was no faulting the effort of Steve Cotterill’s men.

Maloney’s equaliser came out of the blue 12 minutes after he had replaced Akpom, but was no more than Hull deserved. They immediately began to look the more likely winners.